Chapter 21

           Amoment’sglancewasenoughtosatisfyCatherinethatherapartmentwasveryunliketheonewhichHenryhadendeavouredtoalarmherbythedescriptionof.Itwasbynomeansunreasonablylarge,andcontainedneithertapestrynorvelvet.Thewallswerepapered,thefloorwascarpeted;thewindowswereneitherlessperfectnormoredimthanthoseofthedrawing-roombelow;thefurniture,thoughnotofthelatestfashion,washandsomeandcomfortable,andtheairoftheroomaltogetherfarfromuncheerful.Herheartinstantaneouslyateaseonthispoint,sheresolvedtolosenotimeinparticularexaminationofanything,asshegreatlydreadeddisobligingthegeneralbyanydelay.Herhabitthereforewasthrownoffwithallpossiblehaste,andshewaspreparingtounpinthelinenpackage,whichthechaise-seathadconveyedforherimmediateaccommodation,whenhereyesuddenlyfellonalargehighchest,standingbackinadeeprecessononesideofthefireplace.Thesightofitmadeherstart;and,forgettingeverythingelse,shestoodgazingonitinmotionlesswonder,whilethesethoughtscrossedher:

           “Thisisstrangeindeed!Ididnotexpectsuchasightasthis!Animmenseheavychest!Whatcanithold?Whyshoulditbeplacedhere?Pushedbacktoo,asifmeanttobeoutofsight!Iwilllookintoit—costmewhatitmay,Iwilllookintoit—anddirectlytoo—bydaylight.IfIstaytilleveningmycandlemaygoout.”Sheadvancedandexamineditclosely:itwasofcedar,curiouslyinlaidwithsomedarkerwood,andraised,aboutafootfromtheground,onacarvedstandofthesame.